Texas jobless rate for June steady at 5.1 percent

The statewide unemployment rate for June held steady at 5.1 percent, the Texas Workforce Commission reported Friday.

Last month’s seasonally adjusted figure matched the May jobless rate for Texas, halting three months of declines in statewide unemployment rates. The nationwide jobless rate for June was 6.1 percent.

The Texas economy added 19,100 seasonally-adjusted total nonfarm jobs in June, and has added 371,000 jobs in the past year, according to the commission.

“The positive news continues as the Lone Star State’s jobs grew at 3.3 percent annually, with 371,000 jobs added over the last year,” said Andres Alcanar, chairman of the workforce commission. “Every major industry expanded over the year, with mining and logging leading the way at a 7 percent annual growth rate.”

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In Fort Worth-Arlington, the unemployment rate increased to 5.3 percent in June, from 5.0 percent in May, but remains well down from a year ago, when it was 6.6 percent.

Seven of the 11 major industries in Texas showed employment increases over the month, led by a rise of 7,700 jobs in trade, transportation, and utilities. The industry added 90,400 jobs over the year as its annual growth rate reached 4.0 percent, the highest in the industry’s recorded history.

Education and health services continued to offer employment opportunities with the addition of 7,400 jobs in June. This industry has gained 52,600 jobs over the past year, bumping its annual growth rate up to 3.6 percent, its highest level since June 2010, the agency said.